3 d. ago Distracted driving blamed for nearly half of all road deaths in Cyprus

Nineteen of the forty-three killed on the roads this year died because drivers were using mobile phones or not paying attention. These figures were presented to the road safety council on Friday, by both Transport Minister Alexis Vafeades and newly appointed Justice Minister Constantinos Fitiris. Vafeades said the scale of deaths linked directly to phones […]

Events

4 d. ago Justice minister tours central prison amid torture report scandal

New Justice Minister Konstantinos Fytiris on Thursday pledged immediate steps to address severe failings in the prison system, following a damning report by the European council. The minister spent more than three hours at the central prisons, meeting management, staff and inmates, and inspecting cells and common areas. Speaking after the visit, Fytiris said his […]

Events

4 d. ago Justice minister tours central prison amid damning report scandal

New Justice Minister Konstantinos Fytiris on Thursday pledged immediate steps to address severe failings in the prison system, following a damning report by the European council. The minister spent more than three hours at the central prisons, meeting management, staff and inmates, and inspecting cells and common areas. Speaking after the visit, Fytiris said his […]

Events

4 d. ago Justice Minister to visit central prison following EU report

Following a report warning of ‘serious concerns’ published by the Council of Europe’s committee for the prevention of torture, Justice Minster Costas Fitiris on Wednesday said he will pay a visit to the central prison on Thursday. Fitiris said that his visit was aimed at obtaining “general information on all issues concerning the prison” to […]

Events

5 d. ago Council of Europe warns of ‘serious problems’ at Cyprus’ prison

The Council of Europe’s committee for the prevention of torture warned of “serious problems” at Cyprus’ central prison in Nicosia and said it had “grave concerns” over “the high levels of inter-prisoner violence” at the facility. In a report written pursuant to a visit to the island in April, it spoke of a “failure of […]

Events

7 d. ago New justice minister takes over at time ‘filled with challenges’

Public safety and faster delivery of justice will be among the top priorities of his ministry, the new justice minister pledged on Monday. Constantinos Fitiris made the remarks during the handover ceremony, taking over from outgoing justice minister Marios Hartsiotis. “I take over in a period filled with challenges,” Fitiris said. “The state must always […]

Politics

1 week ago Cyprus to create organised crime police unit with Greek support

Cyprus plans to set up an organised crime division within the police, the justice minister revealed on Thursday, but would not give a timeframe for the operation of the new unit. Marios Hartsiotis made the formal announcement in remarks following a meeting in Nicosia with Michalis Chrisochoidis, Greece’s Minister of Citizen Protection. The organised crime […]

Events

2 w. ago Bill introduces supreme court review of prosecutor decisions

The long-awaited bill introducing oversight of the general public prosecutor’s decisions, has on Thursday been approved by the Council of Ministers, the justice ministry announced on Friday. The bill allows the supreme court to review decisions by the general public prosecutor to drop cases entirely or to halt them before trial in the main criminal […]

Events

2 w. ago Cyprus and Greece launch bilateral cooperation project on natural disasters

In an effort to respond to natural disasters in the region more efficiently, Cyprus and Greece have set up the joint “Epicentre” project, which was officially launched by Justice Minister Marios Hartsiotis on Wednesday. “Cyprus, like the entire Eastern Mediterranean, is located in one of the most seismically active regions in Europe, this makes it […]

Events